Printing machine



Dec. 16, 1941. c; h m-ER 2,266,524

PRINTING MACHINE Filed June 11, 1936 '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 16; 1941. H. c. WELTER 2,266,524

PRINTIN? MACHINE Filed June 1'1, 1936 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 v m ll ll INVENTOR z er CIYdter Dec. 16, 1941. H. c. WELTER PRINTING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 11, 1936 INVENTOR HemumC ms ATTORNE Q0 9 w M Dec. 16, 1941.

H. c. WELTER PRINTING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed June 11, 1936 Patented Dec. 16, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PRINTING MACHINE Herman C. Welter, Rochester, N. Y., assignor'to Hall-Welter Co. Incorporated, Rochester, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application June 11, 1936, Serial No. 84,616

11 Claims.

My present invention relates to the art of printing and more particularly to relatively small hand-operated desk and'table machines of the kind used to make impressions upon bank checks and similar small sheets that are inserted by hand in the machine, as in printing in the amount for which the check is drawn, limiting the amount with a not-over cancellation, signing, endorsing, etc. The invention has for its general object to provide arelatively simple, compact, convenient and efficient organized machine of this character embodying improvements particularly adapting it for the signing of.checks with an accredited signature and in an indelible manner. The improvements are directed in part toward features offering security against unauthorized manipulation, such as looking arrangements for the operating mechanism and disposition of the signature die; the mounting of such die and the provision. of a novel gauge table for positioning a bank check, particularly, with relation to the latter whereby signatures may be accurately and deftly placed-in any and all of the various positions and locations on the face of the check customary in modern practices with respect to such' instruments. Accompanying these improvements are also certain improvements in the associated automatic inking mechanism for charging the die whereby such mechanism is rendered moreefiicient and more convenient to the operator particularly in applying fresh ink. To these and other ends, theinvention resides in certain improvements and combinations of parts, all. as will be hereinaftermore fully described, the novel features being pointed out inthe claims at the end of this specification.

In the drawings:

Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6, respectively, show types of bank check signature arrangements, any and all of which can. be printed with my improved machine;

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of such a machineconstructed in accordance with and illustrating one embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 8 is a sideelevation of the right hand or operating side of the machine;

Fig. 8 is a similar view of the left hand side of the machine; 7

Fig. 9 is a transverse vertical section taken substantially on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8 through the printing point;

Fig. 10 is a. fragmentary vertical transverse section taken substantially on the line I0'l0 of Fig. 8 in the plane of the inking point:

Fig. 11 is a vertical section iromfront to rear taken substantiallyon the line H-H of Figs. 9 and 10, showing the parts in normal or rest position;

Fig. 12. is a similar, though fragmentarywiew showing the parts in operation. and in printing position;

Fig. 13 is a bottom plan view;

Fig. 14 is a top plan view. of the gauge table;

Fig. 15 is a detail perspective view of one of the gauges; Fig. 16 is a horizontallsectional view through the casing showing .the interior parts in top plan;

Fig. 1-7 is a bottom plan view of thesignature die holder in one adaptation;

I Fig. 18 is a perspective view of the under side of the removable die detached from its holder; I

Fig. 19 is a perspective view of the platen block,

and I Fig. 20 is a fragmentary detail sectional view taken substantially on the line 2ll-2ll of Fig. 7 showing the connection. to the register or counter.

Similar reference numerals throughout the severalviews indicate the same parts.

Referringfmore particularlyto the drawings, 1 will first describe in detail the printing couple per se, its mode of operation and capabilities, reserving until later a description of its operating and inking mechanism.

With principal reference first to Figs. 11, 12 and 17 to 19, I provide a casing I generally of the accustomed form in such machines, which is divided. by lateral slots 2 opening at the front into a base section 3 and an overhanging .upper section 4, in which latter is contained the die holding, inking and operating mechanism. This upper section is closed but at the same time made accessible by a breast plate 5 closing an opening through which the partly assembled units are inserted. The said slots 2 accommodate a table or. a bed plate 6 held in place on the base section 3 by screws 1 and substantially closing off the chamber formed within the latter.

The machine preferably operates on the principle of a fixed printing die and a movable platen that is swung into and out of cooperation therewith with pressure. The die is indicated at 8 and the platen block at 9. A fixed rod I0 bridges the interior of the upper casing at the front, being held in the side walls by cap screws I l and pinned thereto at I2 is a rigid die support 13. It is -so held rigidly in placeby extensions 14, through which passes a pin lisecured in the casing walls. On the under face of the die holder is a groove 15 provided with overhanging spring plates l1 secured to the support by screws l8 and constituting resilient gibs. Interiorly raised portions 19 spaced at intervals on these gibs in the form of rounded pressure points are adapted to ease the insertion and removal of the hereinafter described die block while at the same time clamping it evenly against the smooth bottom face of the inverted slot I6. Secured to the slot bottom at one end and beneath the gibs is an adjustable stop 20 consisting, in the present instance, of a slotted plate held by a screw 2| and a spring washer 22.

The construction of the die block 8 is clearly shown in the perspective view of Fig 18. It is mounted on a stiff backing plate 23 extended at one end to provide a handle 24 and has longitudinal grooves 25 in its side faces to take the gibs !1 that press the flat mounting plate evenly and securely against the smooth bottom face of the receiving groove l6 of the die holder. By means of the handle 24 aforesaid, which remains projecting laterally from the exterior of the casing 4, as shown in other views, the die is slipped into the die holder endwise through an opening 26 in such casing from either end, that is, from either side of the latter until halted by the stop 20 which defines its desired position on the line of printing. This projecting handle, by the way, also serves, with the aid of a notch 24 in one edge thereof, as an added means for positioning the printed signature upon the signature line of the check, as will presently appear. The screw hole 21 is provided at the opposite end of the bottom of the die holder groove so that the stop 23 may be reversed in this respect and for this purpose. In other instances, the stop 20 is removed altogether for the use of two signature dies, one of which is inserted from each side, as shown in Fig. 9, for purposes that will hereinafter appear.

It will be borne in mind at this point that as the same die block is inserted in the holder from the right or the left side, it will accordingly produce relatively reversed signatures, that is, from the standpoint of the front of the machine, one signature will be up-side-down with respect to the other, the reason for which will shortly appear.

The impression face of the die block 8 carries in cameo script the facsimile signature indicated at 28 in type reverse, of course, and in the form of a finely transversely serrated line accurately milled out to fit complementary serrations 29 on the platen block 9. The aforesaid notch 24 is of a depth that brings it to the exact writing line of the cameo script 28 so that the exact placing thereof may be effected by proper registration of the notch with the printing line on the projecting end of a check. This extreme accuracy is required in a signature printer because the impression is made by a single necessarily relatively long die and unlike its companion machine; the check writer, that prints the amount of the check, the serrations of the units of the printing couple cannot slide into self-adjustment with the opposing unit but must be in exact register. In the check writer, the impression is made by different combinations of a number of relatively small interchangeable types, each of which has relatively few and usually rather coarse serrations so that in that case there is this self-adjustment and necessarily so, due to the interchanging movements, and approximate registrations with the platen serrations are sufficient.

Referring now to the sheet of drawings carrying Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, there is illustrated there five forms of bank checks embodying signature requirements and conditions generally representative of present practice and which my present machine is adapted to handle. In Fig. 1 is shown the orthodox single signature check with the signature line at the lower right. In. Fig. 2 there is the signature and countersignature one above the other in the same margin. In Fig. 3 the signature line is as before but the countersignature is in corresponding position at the left. In Fig. 4, the signature line is as before with the countersignature line transversely arranged at the endorsing end (and it may here be noted that this is a check endorsing point as well as a counter-signing point). Figs. 5 and 6 are illustrative of the attached voucher system or double check, wherein the voucher is torn off by the payee and returned as a receipt to the maker. In the instance of Fig. 5, the check is above and the voucher below, whereas in the instance of Fig. 6 the reverse is true. As such a voucher check obviously cannot be doubled or folded for machine writing purposes, it is apparent that different arrangements must be made for the reception in the machine and the printing of these last two forms which, by the way, so far as the signature lines are concerned, are shown as composites of the signature placements on the single checks of Figs. 1 to 4. I shall now explain the instrumentalities through which any and all of these check forms may be expeditiously handled and the signatures impressed thereon at the proper and desired points.

The said table or bed plate 6, previously described as occupying a slot 2 beneath the die carrier and die, is shown in plan View in Fig. 14 and in transverse section in Fig. 10. It embodies a substantially central opening 30 through which the platen 9 moves to make the printing impression surrounded by downwardly turned flanges 3|. Toward the back there are two forwardly and rearwardly extending slots 32 and 33 located just outside of the casing walls, in which slide with sufficient frictional resistance two spring fingers 34 and 35 attached to a transverse gauge bar 36 having lateral projecting and upstanding manipulating ears 31. The spring finger 35 is substantially flush with the upper surface of the table to constitute a guiding element in the slot 33 for the back gauge 36, while the finger 34 is raised above the surface of the table to perform a similar function and also to act as a lateral gauge stop for the check at the right, as appears additionally in Fig. 8. Thus, the back gauge 36 has a definite parallel movement forwardly and rearwardly of the table. The lateral gauge and spring 34 at the right is detachably held in place by a screw 38 so that it can be removed entirely when desired and a finger, such as the finger 35 flush with the table top, substituted therefor whereby a situation is created in which there is no gauging stop whatever at the right. The upstanding back gauge 36 is further guided by a forwardly extending plate 39 thereon that proceeds from its lower edge and hugs the lower face of table 6, whereas a spring plate 40 proceeding correspondingly from its upper edge confines the inserted check between itself and the table top, while at the same time protecting such check from mutual interference between itself and the moving printing parts arranged above it and hereinafter described.

Another gauge plate 4| is provided forwardly of the d plate 6 and to the left. Its vertical r gau ing face 42 isfurnishedby'a'flan e atits i ht edge and it is rendered: adjust ble and guided in such adjustabili-ty by athumb screw 43 on the'bed extending through a slot 44 and two fixedguidepins 45 working in a slot 45.. To re-. capitulate, there is thus provided a back gauge 36' adjustable forwardly and rearwardly, a right hand removable gauge 34'carried thereby and this independently adjustable left hand gauge 42.

I will now describe the manipulations of the various check forms of Figs. 1 to 6 with reference to the use of these gauges and the disposition of the die plates 8. For this purpose we will assume that we have two signatures to attach either one of which it must be possible to impress upon any line so that either one may be the maker and the other the countersigner. Two dies 8 are provided for each signature. Of these, what we will call the normal die when inserted from the right will print a signature normally or right-side-up from the front of the machine on a check similarly inserted to read from that direction. When this die is inserted from the left, it will, of course, print up-side-down with respect to the same point of view. The other is what we will call a reverse die, that is, the writing will be directionally reversed on the die plate so that when inserted from the right of the machine it will print up-side-down and when inserted from the left it will print right-side-up. In other words, it will be the same die-cut with the handle on the end adjacent the first name of the signature rather than the last name. So equipped, all of the check forms of Figs. 1 to 6 can be signed.

For check No. 1, the die plate 2324 carrying a normal die 8 is inserted in its holder from the right and the back gauge 36 so set as to bring the impression on the signature line. The check is so properly positioned laterally either by use of the right hand gauge 34 as an abutment or as a marker with reference to an extra long check, such marker registering with an identifiable point of marking on the check, for which reason, the check gauge 34 slopes or tapers toward the front so that the body of the check may ride up and rest uponit while in contact with the back gauge.

It is obvious that the signature and countersignature of check No. 2 may be impressed in the same way by changing normal dies and retracting the back gauge 36 a suitable distance for the counter-signing operation. That is, the makers signature is made with a normal die which is replaced with a normal die of the counter-signer.

The signature of check No. 3 is made as in Nos.

1 and 2 and the counter-signature at the left may be made by exchanging dies as with'No. 2 and sliding the check an appropriate distance to the right, or both signatures may be impressed with the one operation with two dies in the die holder inserted from the opposite ends as illustrated in Fig. 8 In such a case, theright hand die would be normal and the left hand die reverse.

With check No. 4, the signature is impressed as in No. 1 and the counter-signature made with a substitution of normal dies in substantially the same way with the indicated use of the back and right hand gauges to bring it on the end line, the check, of course, being inserted endwise.

Check No. being, as aforesaid, a composite of Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 4, so far as the body thereof is concerned, it can be impressed as above described, the attached voucher at the bottom edge thereof in no way interfering with such procedure.

With respect to No. 6, however, it is obvious that the. machine and the bed thereof would have tube made extraordinarily deep. to: follow the courscrot'signing'Noe 5 because the fullwidth; of the voucher is at the top and. as, before stated, it would notdo to fold the voucher beneath the check; and print through both of them; With No. 6, therefore, the check is print fore with ajnormal die. With the three bottom.

lines, the signatures may be placed properly thereon by :usingtwo reverse dies and no normaldies, both inserted from the right and interchanged as required: In this connection, it becomes obvious, therefore, that with the use. of such reverse dies so inserted from the right; check forms 1', 2 and 3 may be printed with the previously described facility by simply inserting the check up-side-down, that is, up-side-down edge for edge. If signatures C'and B are to be printed simultaneously, however, there is used for B a normal die inserted from the left. Therefore. with twodies for a given signature, normal and reverse, respectively, andv inserted from:'the proper side, that'signature may be placed core rectly on anyof the writing lines of any and all of the specimens, Nos. 1 to 6, with ease through the coordinated manipulations of the check itself, as described.

The printing operation is activated as follows:

It being borne in mind that the signature die 8 and its holder l3 constitute the fixed element, the platen 9 is carried on the short arm of a lever pivoted at 41 in the base section 3 of the casing. This lever is in the form of a yoke having arms 48 connected by a supporting bar 49, preferably in an integral piece. The platen is held thereto by screws 50 extending through from the underside of the bar (Fig. 12), and threaded into the platen, while screws 5| (Fig. 11) threaded into the bar from the top are channeled at their lower ends at 52 and provided with lock nuts .53, whereby theymay be backed offagainst the underside of the platen to hold it rigidly against any lost motion in the threads. Also, with the two threaded elements acting against each other, .not only this result is accomplished butthe platen. can be adjusted so it is raised and lowered, bodilyor tilted endwise tovbring its working surfaceinto uniform contact at thedesiredpoint in the throw of. the lever withthe signature die Withwhich it cooperates. As. before pointed out, this articulation in the printing operation :must be exact to bring the unusuallength of the relatively integral serrations of one unit of .the. printing couple into complementary bearing against the corresponding and similar serrations of the other unit.

The rearwardly projecting stem arm 54 of the platen yokenormally (Fig. 11) extends also upwardly into the top section 4 of the casing where it" is connected by-wrist pins'55 and 55 and links 5'! with an arm. 58 "pinned to a main operating shaft 59 extending transversely through thecasing. As will be seem-this provides a togglearrangement whereby, through a counter-clockwise rocking of shaft 53in Figs. 11 and 12, the yoke is depressed at the rearandpcarries the platen element-f the printing couple forcibly into contact with its stationary die 8. In Fig. 12, a. fragment of a check being so printed with a check of Fig. 6, as defined by its position.

This main rock shaft 59 is carried in suitable bearings in the casing and projects at the right side to receive a detachable operating crank 60 having a handle 6|. Its normal position corresponding to the showing of the parts in' Fig, 11 is the erect one of Fig. 8 and when it is pulled forwardly to a substantially horizontal position, as in Fig. 7, it performs the printing operation with the parts as in Fig. 12. A pin 62 on the projecting journal bearing of the shaft takes into a slot (not shown) in the hub 63 of the crank, which interlocking is maintained by a set screw 64 in the latter. This pin 62 also operates with suitable pins 65 and 66 projecting from the wall of the casing to act as stops limiting and defining the positions of the operating lever in its normal position and at the end of its throw. The parts are returned to'such normal position of Figs, 8 and 11 when the crank is released by a spring 6! connected to a lug 68 on one of the yoke arms 48 and to the base section of the casing at 69, assisted, however, by another spring provided in connection with further mechanism actuated by the main rock shaft 59, as will be presently described. But it is desirable to have this definite retracting connection for the platen element independent of the effects of lost motion in accompanying parts.

While the signature die 8 can be removed bodily as a unit, as described, and preserved in a safe place accessible only to authorized persons, it is also desirable to provide means for locking the machine as a whole against the use of improvised, counterfeit or other dies. 'This is also advantageous with respect to the consideration that idlers and thoughtless persons are apt to play with the machine while not equipped for use and repeatedly actuate the operating lever ineifectively and yet with the result of accumulating false totals on a register hereinafter described that is provided for the purpose of keeping track of the number of signatures for the printing of which the machine has been used. This locking means, in the present embodiment, includes an ordinary Yale type key controlled lock 69 (Fig. 16) mounted in the left side of the casing I and in the upper section 4 thereof. Fixed to the rotatable cylinder 79 within the barrel Ill thereof is a dog 1| movable into and out of the path of a lock arm 12 fixed to the operating shaft 59. When the machine is in operation, this dog occupies the full line position of Figs. 11, 12 and 16, in which it is cleared by the arm F2 as the operating shaft is rocked. The key 13 can be withdrawn from the lock, however, only when the cylinder and dog H are rotated to the dotted line position of Fig. 12, in which position it presents itself in the path of arm 12, is locked there and so locks the arm. Of course, the latter must be in the forward position of Figs. 12 and 16 when this occurs and consequently the operating crank 60 must be in the horizontal position of Fig. 16. In such position (Fig. 12) the platen 9 is fully raised to impression position and hence closes the slot 2 to the entrance of a check even with the signature die 8 withdrawn. In other words, the machine is locked not in the normal or rest position of Figs. 11 and 12 but at the completion of an operating movement. As soon as the key 73 is re-inserted and the operating crank pressed down a little to relieve the tension and friction,

2,266,524 signature is indicated at Ch. This would be the the tumbler pins in the lock will release the cylinder 19 for rotation and the springs that restore the parts to normal position will cause the arm 12 to push the dog Ill out of the way. To this end, the arm 12, as appears in Figs. 10 and 16, is in the form of a flanged plate having a segmental track 14 to ride against the dog and actuate it toward the full line positions.

The counting mechanism referred to consists of a register box supported on a bracket 16 on the top of the casing I, as shown in Figs. 8 and 20, containing the usual accumulating dials Tl visible through an opening 18 in the cover plate 5. An arm 19 on the dial shaft is connected by a link 60 to the arm 58 of the platen actuating mechanism before described, so that movements thereof between the positions of Fig. 11 and that of Fig, 12 actuates the register in the accustomed manner.

The inking mechanism for furnishing ink to the signature die 8 is disclosed in my prior patent, No. 2,029,646, dated February 4, 1936, in its major aspects, and hence, with a comparatively brief explanation of its construction and mode of operation, the advantages common to the device as explained in said patent need not be referred to in detail. Fixed to the side walls of the casing I just above the slot 2 and within the upper section 4 thereof are a pair of ledgelike flanges 8i constituting rigid tracks upon which reciprocates a carriage plate 82 that bridges them, with the exception of an opening for clearance with respect to the toggle connection 545l-58 of the platen operating mechanism. Gibs 83 on the underside of the plate embrace the guides while at the forward edge thereof there is hinged thereto at 84 a holder 85 carrying an inking brush slide 86. When the parts are in the normal retracted positions of Fig. 11, the carriage plate is advanced, as shown, beneath the signature die 8 and remains in contact therewith. With the printing operation it retreats to the position of Fig. 12 and brushes across a saturated inking roll 81., with which it remains in contact continuing so when the machine is locked with the key controlled device. The printing roll has a tubular core by means of which it is inserted upon or withdrawn from a long stud 88 projecting from the right wall of the casing and upon which the roll turns. This is accomplished through an opening 89 in tht left wall of the casing closed by a collarlike door 90 on the projecting operating knob 9| attached to the outer end of the roll, guide pins 92 being provided on this closure registering with suitable apertures in the casing wall and serving to steady that end of the long stud. As appears in Fig. 10 also, the brush slide 86 registers with this opening when the printing couple are brought together during an impression and may be withdrawn through the opening for any attention it may require with or without the inking roll accompanying it, while the machine is locked or while it is otherwise maintained in this printing position. For this purpose, the outer end of the slide is provided with a curled flange or bead 93 which may be engaged to withdraw the slide from its holder with the use of a suitable hooked instrument, by means of which the operator may reach inside.

Fastened to the forward ends of the guide flanges 8| as by screws 94 is a spring stripper plate 95. Its spring tendency is downward, which movement, with its rear edge so secured,

messa e iselimited. at? its -inclined; forwardledge. 91:. by

engagement; withwribs ;98 $011 an inclined. cover plate 991011 thecasing that-constitutes the throat. of :the. slots 2.;into..which.the 1checkis inserted onv the. bed..6; This stripper. plate is provided IUI may communicate "a .more uniformnpward movement to thestripper plate 91. Thecheck Ch being brought up with the ,platenisbent, through theopening |UIJ;-as,,appears in Fig.;12, but-;When;the platen; is retracted, the stripper.

plate follows it down and dislodges it from the face; of -the signature die on which it is more.

liable 1 to stick and leaves the check free to; be withdrawn.-

When the,inking;carriage; is in th'e forward normal position; of Fig, 11, the brush holder 86 closes the. opening Hi0 the stripper-plate;over which it slides, In its forward approach to,this;

brush, it passes over shqes I02 extended rear: wardly from the die holder I3. When the carriage;;moves -rearwardlyagain, it passes over a plurality of spring fingers I03 struck from the fixed rear edge of the stripper plate 95, which fingers, as shown in Fig. 12, engage the hinged inking brush holder 86 from beneath and raise the brush to the desired firm but not too harsh contact with the inking roll 81.

The actuating mechanism for the inking mechanism is, of course, activated from the main operating shaft 59 to work in unison and in synchronism with the movement of the printing 4 couple. On a stud IE4 on the left wall of the casing is pivoted an arm I05 provided with a pin IE6 at its lower end having a bearing in and a sliding and turning engagement with a yoke IIlI fixed on the carriage plate 82. A coil tension spring I68 engaged with pin I99 on an intermediate portion of this lever has its other end connected for reaction against the casing at I I0, which spring through this arrangement tends to hold the inking carriage in the normal forward position of Fig. 11. It also, through the hook-up about to be described, assists spring 67 in restoring all parts to this normal position. Also fulcrumed on the left wall of the casing I on a stud III is a simple lever H2 of the first order. Its upper end is pivoted at I!3 to a link IM, the opposite end of which is provided with a slot H5 with which it cooperates another pin H6 on carriage lever I65. The lower end of the lever H2 is pivoted at H! to a link H8 that connects it through a wrist pin H9 to an arm I20 fixed to operating shaft 59. Obviously, as

1 such shaft is rocked forwardly or in a counterclockwise direction, the printing movement will through these links and levers and against the tension of spring I08 rock the carriage lever I05 rearwardly as in Fig. 12 and retract the inking brush clear and allow the printing couple to come together.

While a machine constructed in accordance with my invention is, generally, a printing machine, it is also as to some of its characteristics essentially a check writing or signature machine, and it is to be noted that with respect to the attachment of a signature it is adapted for operatingi vnrtpnly .upon; checks I but upon all manner ofidocuments andpapersasuch as StOGkifiIldibOlld certificates; attested agreements, et. cetera.(

I claimaas emminventionz; I 15 In 1a check signing .m'achine, themombination with a casing embodying an uppersection, abase section, and an intervening bed. plate, of aap-rintingz couple comprising a movable platen in onesectionand-a fixeddie-- holder inthe= othensection, said latter-section being aprovided withi openings inoppositev sides thereof in alinement withlthe die holder, and a :diedetachably and interchangeably supported by the die holder I toebezzinserted andi removed throughxeither ofl the -said- -openings, said die including a die platehaving a projecting handle ineither position that also---serves as a line guide forplacing the signature properly on the check;

2. In a check signing nrachina -thecombination with a casing embodying; anupper section,

abase section and an intervening bed plate, of a..-printing-- couple comprising a movable 1 platen other section} said lattersection being provided with openings-in opposite sides thereof in alinement with the --die holder, a) die 4 detachably and interchangeably supported ;by--the die: holder to be ins erted and removed-through oneof said openings, the die holder being provided with 1 retaining device s --adapting--it to-receive the die" by a sliding -movement through-eitherend -there of, and a stop assuciat'edwiththeretaining devices adjustable to act upon the die in either inserted position.

3. In a check signing machine, the combination with a casing embodying an upper section,

' a base section, and an intervening b'ed plate,

of a printing couple comprising a movable platen in one section and a fixed die holder in the other section, said latter section being provided with an opening in one side in alinement with the die holder, and a die detachably supported by the die holder to be inserted and removed through the said opening, said die being mounted on a plate having a handle projecting from the casing and provided with a notch, the depth of which indicates the line of printing.

4. In a check signing machine, the combination with a casing embodying an upper section, a base section, and an intervening bed plate having a printing opening therein, of a printing couple comprising a movable platen in one section and a fixed die holder in the other section, said latter section being provided with openings in opposite sides thereof in alinement with the die holder, a die detachably and interchangeably supported by the die holder to be inserted and removed through either of said openings, an adjustable back gauge on the bed plate and two side gauges thereon, one on each side of the printing opening.

5. A check signing machine in accordance with claim 4 in which one of the side gauges is displaceably connected to the back gauge.

6. A check signing machine in accordance with claim 4 in which one of the gauges is adjustable on the bed toward and from the other and the latter is detachably mounted on the back gauge.

'7. me check signing machine, the combination with a casing embodying an upper section, a base section, and an intervening bed plate having a printing opening therein and a pair of parallel slots running from front to rear thereof, of a printing couple comprising relatively movable die and platen elements operating through the printing opening, and an adjustable back gauge for a check extending transversely across and slidable on the table and provided with forward spring guiding fingers running in the slots in lateral frictional contact with the walls thereof.

8. In a check signing machine, the combination with a casing embodying an upper section, a base section, and an intervening bed plate having a printing opening therein and a pair of parallel slots running from front to rear thereof, of a printing couple comprising relatively movable die and platen elements operating through the printing'opening, and an adjustable back gauge for a check slidable on the table and provided with forward spring guiding fingers running frictionally in the slots, one of said fingers being shaped to rise above the table and serve as a lateral gauge for the check.

9. In a check signing machine, the combination with a casing embodying an upper section, a base section, and an intervening bed plate having a printing opening therein, of a printing couple comprising a movable platen in one section and a fixed die holder in the other section, operating mechanism for the platen including a shaft in the casing, a segmental dog on the shaft and a key controlled lock in the casing wall embodying a rotary cylinder having an arm thereon adapted to be locked in the path of the segment and to ride on the latter and be displaced thereby when the lock cylinder is released.

10. Ina check signing machine, the combina tionwith a casing embodying an upper section, a base section, and an intervening bed plate having a printing opening therein, the upper section of the casing having an opening at the top and a cover plate for said opening itself provided with an inspection opening, of a printing couple comprising a movable platen in one section and a fixed die holder in the other section, operating mechanism for the platen including a shaft in the casing, a counter register secured to the underside of the top of the casing and viewable through the inspection opening in the cover plate, and actuating connections between the counter and the operating shaft.

11. In a check signing machine, the combination with a casing embodying an upper section, a base section, and an intervening bed plate having a printing opening therein, of a printing couple comprising a movable platen in one sec- 7 tion and a fixed die holder in the other section, a gauge plate slidable on the underside of the bed plate and having finger pieces projecting laterally from the casing on the upper side of the bed plate, a back gauge on the gauge plate, and a spring shield on the back gauge that proceeds forwardly therefrom as a guide and protector for the inserted check;

HERMAN C. WELTER 

